SUPPORT
TOBACCO
HARM
REDUCTION
POLICIES
www.CASAA.org
A public service message from the
Consumers Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association

4 tokewell magazine

Special Thanks
Martin Ortiz, Ryan Guthrie,
Tony Puankosoom, Alison Nicole,
Noel Martinez, Andy Ittawa,
Jesus Evangelista and all of our
advertisers and supporters.
Tokewell Magazine is published
bi-monthly by fr3shLAb creative
group, llc. Tokewell Magazine
does not condone the illegal use or
obtainment of cannabis. All content
within this magazine is copyright
protected and may not be reproduced in part or in whole without
explicit written consent from the
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only, and is not to be held liable
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tokewell.com
tokewell
tokewell

Within both of these paradigms,
we have come to a point where
good ol’ home innovation and
inventiveness is meeting real
world design and production.
The black markets have exploded
upon the legitimate business world
to the tune of billions of dollars.
Regulation and legislation that
we have fought long and hard for,
are ﬁnally coming to fruition. Yet,
this is only the beginning...We as a
community must remain vigilant
and ensure that these ﬂedgling
industries continue on the correct
path on our way to freedom,
health and wellness. We must
monitor ourselves as well as our
compatriots because we are living
on the bleeding edge. There are no
established experts but ourselves
and as we carry our torches into
the darkness, we must keep in
mind that we are paving the way
for all those who follow.
Information is our most valuable
weapon and our most precious
ally. With this in mind, I invite you
to join us on a journey of discovery
and enlightenment leading to victory and liberty.

First off, we’d like to thank all of our supporters for the
positive feedback from our debut issue, and let you know
that we recognize and honor the genuine embrace we
have received from both the Vape and MMJ communities.
We appreciate it, and can assure you that this is just the
beginning of something grand. Our movement is truly
a lifestyle movement, as we did not set out to establish
ourselves as just a Vape or MMJ magazine. We are a lifestyle
publication committed to providing you with the best
content in both industries through our pens and lenses, as
well as the surrounding issues and inspirational stories.

welcome

Welcome to the Tokewell Magazine.
We strive to bring you to the cutting
edge of technology, design, lifestyle,
and culture for both MMJ and
Vapor.

Right now, the Vape industry is at a crossroads. We have
struggled and banded together under big tobacco opposition
and proposed FDA regulations and guess what? Those are
just speed bumps and they will not stop this movement!
We are too strong and living proof that there is truly
strength in numbers. That said, we must recognize that
now is an opportune time for us to really make an impact
and guide the Vape industry, as it continues to ascend into
a mainstream level. Remember, we are brand ambassadors
for both the Vape and MMJ industries. Whether we Vape
e-liquid or concentrates, please do so at your own intelligent
discretion. We are all under a microscope and open to
public scrutiny, and we have to keep in mind that 95% of
the general population has never been to a Vape shop or
collective. How many times have you had to explain to a
family or friend what vaping is? Our job is to promote
and educate by bringing our respective industries into a
positive light. Remember, not all of us chase clouds or
are stuck in our couches with a case of the munchies.
There’s work to be done.

Sincerely,

Stack Paper, Catch Vapors.
Saul Goode
Editor-in-Chief

issue 02 november/december 2014

5

intro to vaping
vapelife

WORDS

GARY RIDDLE CEO, MR. GOOD VAPE

T

he deﬁnition of a life changing
moment is altering a person’s life
or circumstances in a substantial
way. For many people, including myself
this happened when we were introduced to
electronic cigarettes. Unfortunately when I
made the commitment to start vaping there
was not a whole lot of information. I had to
gamble, hope for the best, and learn from my
mistakes. I even was made fun of by people
whom now vape. Now a person interested
in vaping is overwhelmed with the amount
of information on the internet, good and
bad interactions with novice or experienced
vapors, including misinformation from the
media. I just recommend to take a deep
breath, and know it’s not as complicated as it

Are you a cigarette smoker? If so,
what do you smoke and how many
cigarettes do you smoke a day? This
will help me ﬁgure out how much
money they can invest by showing
them the cost beneﬁt of switching to
vaping as an alternative to smoking.
Example: if a person smokes a pack
a day at an average of $5.50 a pack
they are spending an average of
$165 a month and $1980 a year. This
question will often help someone
see that the beneﬁt of investing
more money into a quality vaping
setup. The other reason for this
question is to see what milligram
level of nicotine to recommend. I will
recommend a higher nicotine level to
a heavy smoker, a lower nicotine level
to casual smoker, or no nicotine to an
ex smoker.

seems. Luckily as vapers we are a commuity,
we stand together and will help out in anyway
we can. From my personal experience
helping many people transition or take the
plunge into electronic cigarettes I encounter
the same questions every time. With so many
methods, devices, juices, and accessories it’s
very frustrating for people to make the right
choice for themselves. With the right advice
a person can truly enjoy vaping, become part
of a wonderful community, and pass on their
knowledge to others. I always say “You taught
yourself how to smoke, you have to teach
yourself how to vape”. To help me ﬁgure out
what method or setup is best for a new vaper
as well as create the best experience for them
I ask these questions.

Are you looking for the best taste or
performance? Or an easy to use set up
that requires very little maintenance?
This question is very important,
ﬁnding the right ecigarette can make
or break a persons commitment
to stick with vaping or to simply
enjoy vaping. I stepped up from V2
cigalikes, to a ego style kit, to a buzz
pro with punched cartomizers with a
tank, to a Chi You with an Ithaca, to
a DNA box mod with a Kayfun Lite.
All have their pro’s and con’s, which
should be explained in detail. In my
experience people have the best luck
starting with an affordable ego style
kit with clearomizers, then move
their way up to a tube or regulated
mod with a rebuildable atomizer.
Many people jump the gun when
it comes to their ﬁrst device, think
simplicity at ﬁrst then performance.

Vaping for me is now a way of life, my
vape goes with me everywhere, I love
and look forward to the innovation of
new devices as well as juices. For me it
was the only thing that made me quit
smoking, which is priceless. I now have
friends around the world simply for
the fact we vape, I promise the vape
community is a beautiful one. Just

6 tokewell magazine

What ﬂavors do you think you would
enjoy? Everyone’s pallet is different, luckily with so many great juice
companies come a plethora of ﬂavor
choices. Common ﬂavor proﬁles include desserts, tobacco, menthol’s,
coffee, fruits, and beverages. I always
recommend going to your local vape
shop and sit down at their tasting bar.
Try anything and everything, you will
be surprised at what ﬂavor you may
fall in love with. My recommendation
when purchasing any juice is to ask if
it’s made in a clean environment? Is
it tested? Does it come with a child
proof cap? Does it come with a shrink
band? Look if the label has all the
right warning information as well.
You wouldn’t go to a restaurant with
an F rating so why would you use a
juice that may be made in one.

remember to truly enjoy vaping, you
have to learn, experiment, and ﬁnd the
right device for you. It’s easy to become
overwhelmed, but believe me it’s worth
it as a smoking alternative. Who knows,
you may become a hobbyist entering
cloud competitions, or just enjoying a
fresh wrap with Japanese cotton at the
end of the day before you know it.

We here at Tokewell Magazine have a
racecar. Our pilot and engineer is none
other than the legendary RicheWerks of
the SoCal street scene. He’s made his name
smashing down the streets of Los Angeles
burning the midnight oil. Don’t know who
he is? Ask any street racing OG or search for
him on YouTube using ‘RicheWerks’ as your
keyword. He’s honed his skills on the streets
and brought them to a pro-circuit level
nationwide, to the point in which Nat Geo
took notice and ﬁlmed a documentary at his
garage 5150 Racing. Meet legendary street
and pro-circuit racer RicheWerks.

issue 02 november/december 2014

9

How long have you been street racing for?
Since 2002, so 12 years now.
Do you still run the streets?
I don’t go out to the streets unless it’s for money.
Is the culture running the streets much different
versus the track?
The streets are more intense with the cash and
dealing with different personas. At the track, it’s
more organized and official.
Does social media play an role in your business?
My business is made from my name and rep on

10 tokewell magazine

the streets. Social media has added an entirely
new platform to communicate and set up races
instantly.
Does cannabis inhibit your performance?
Cannabis is something I use to relax at the end of
the day. I’ve raced high and I wouldn’t recommend
it. You need to focus yourself and all your energy on
the task at hand. Your life depends on it.
What do think of the technology of cannabis
nowadays?
I’m an old school ﬂower bud type of guy. I
dabbed once and it laid me out (laughs).

issue 02 november/december 2014

11

2 0 1 4

H O L I D A Y

GIFT GUIDE
PRESENTED BY

BALLER’S
CHOICE

QK High Roller Sweets
Complex ﬂavors packaged in a
glass dice container shrouded by
real shredded government notes?
Who does that?! High Roller
Sweets does. All you have to do now
is roll a natural 11 on your parlay.
Available at high end retailers and
www.thevapetheory.com.

14 tokewell magazine

issue 02 november/december 2014

15

2 0 1 4

H O L I D A Y

GIFT GUIDE
PRESENTED BY

16 tokewell magazine

BALLERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S
CHOICE

Q

OG Sacred by OG Republic
Constructed of 100% copper, the
weight and single ďŹ re trigger makes
no apologies when it comes down to
business and clout. If your pockets run
deep, you can also get the gold limited
edition. Available at high end retailers
and www.ogrepublic.com.

O Shine

If you want to make a boss status
statement, nothing will do the job
better than rolling a tree with 24K
papers if front of people. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get
any more Hollywood than that, right
Miley? Available at high end retailers
and www.shinepapers.com.

K Vapes of Spades

Imagine yourself at Hakkassan in
Las Vegas and seeing other patrons
vaping. You whip out your Vapes of
Spades bottle and start dripping. Be
prepared to fend off a bevy of gold
diggers like Hugh Hefner. Available at
www.vapeofspades.com and high end
retailers.

issue 02 november/december 2014

17

2 0 1 4

H O L I D A Y

GIFT GUIDE
PRESENTED BY

18 tokewell magazine

CANNABUY

P

O

N

Phuncky Feel Tips
Tired of burning the tips of your
ﬁngers? Look no further than this set
of glass-blown tips by none other than
Cypress Hill. Reﬁne your medicating
experience. Available at select retailers
and www.phunckyfeeltips.com.
Iris
Looking for organic, gluten-free,
kosher certiﬁed chocolates and
gummies to medicate? Look no
further. Iris offers chocolates and
gummies in a variety of ﬂavors in
lab-tested Sativa, Indica and CBD
offerings. Available in high end
collectives and www.irisgummies.com.
Stag Vapor Co.
This has the smoothest hits for
concentrates. For patients with
iron lungs, Stag has a 30-second
hit battery whereas other brands
shut off after 10. Slim, discreet and
versatile, it’s perfect for any occasion.
Available at participating retailers
and www.stagvapor.com.

issue 02 november/december 2014

19

2 0 1 4

H O L I D A Y

GIFT GUIDE
PRESENTED BY

20 tokewell magazine

MOD
MEN

P The Stashbox

Creator Donny Sirivisut has
changed the landscape of the
mod industry with his DNA
30. Impeccable design mated
with a gorgeous aluminum
exterior, the DNA 30 has the
swagger and elegance of a
Ferrari 458 Italia. Available
only at select retail outlets.

Q

StingRay XTi b JD Tech
This is one of those sought
after mechanicals that doubles
as a conversation and status
piece. Constructed from
titanium, copper and stainless
steel, the build quality is
second to none. Available in
limited quantities (serialized).
Available at select retailers and
at www.smokelesssuccess.com.

Q

Shamrock by Celtic Mods
As diehard Laker fans, we
almost didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put this in
simply for the name. But,
you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t deny the swag this
mod has. Constructed of red
copper, brass and silver plated
copper pins, this mod was
made to go to function and
is 100% made in the USA.
Available at select retailers and
at www.smokelesssuccess.com.

issue 02 november/december 2014

21

2 0 1 4

H O L I D A Y

GIFT GUIDE

STAY
LIQUID

PRESENTED BY

M

Victory Liquid
This brand was conceived with the vape
connoisseur and automotive enthusiast in mind,
meaning this is perfect gift for the race enthusiast
in your life. Available at retailers and at
www.victoryliquid.com.

Q

High Voltage
This is must have for the action sports junkie
in your life. Imagine an e-liquid with a
perfect blend of energy and flavor with each
toke. They even have a melatonin-infused
liquid as well to help relax you. Available at
retailers and www.highvoltagevaporz.com.

22 tokewell magazine

M

Villain Vapors
If you haven’t heard of Villain by now, you’re stuck
in the mustard and need to ketchup! They’re OG’s
in the vape game and a must have for their unique
palette and ﬂavor proﬁles. Available at retailers
and at www.villainvapors.com.

R Phillip Rocke Grand Reserve

Amazing earthy tones and employing
culinary techniques only found in high-end
restaurants. The process includes utilizing
reclaimed brandy barrels and aging the
liquid to perfection. The flavor is released
once every 3 months available exclusively at
www.thedripclub.com.

M

Vaping Monkey
This juice is another one of our
favorites simply for the varietal
choices. Each juice is hand-crafted
and loaded with flavor. This is
definitely a need-to-get. Available
exclusively at www.vapervenue.com.

Q

L GoodFellas Vapors

Crow and Chemist
For the artisan and purveyor in your
family of all things fine, this is a must
have for the distinguished vaper with a
discerning palette. Available at retailers
and www.crowandchemist.com.

Created exclusively by world famous
tattoo artist Steve Soto, this is his
signature juice. Twist and Drip
technology is a must have for the
dripper. Available at fine retailers and
at www.twistanddrip.com.

R Holy Grail

One of our personal favorites and
most flavorful brands partly because
weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all foodies and love to vape.
With flavors like Blueberry Waffles
and Cream Supreme, what more can
you ask for? Available at retailers and
at www.holygrailelixirs.com.

issue 02 november/december 2014

23

2 0 1 4

H O L I D A Y

GIFT GUIDE

ACCESSORIES

PRESENTED BY

Q

Vegas Bindery
They are leather craftsmen
that have some of the freshest
holsters, binders and cases for
any type of mod you have. The
attention to detail and designs
are second to none. Available at
www.vegasbindery.com.

24 tokewell magazine

Q

Vaping Monkey
The infamous Monkey Sak is a
must have if you have a vaper
in the family. The colorways
are always fresh and a perfect
complement to your outfit and
swag. Available exclusively at
www.vapervenue.com.

Q

The Mad Carpenter
Brandon Young aka The Mad
Carpenter has come up with a
fashionable and sustainable way to
showcase and house your modsâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;
out of wood. It makes for a perfect
gift for that vape fanatic in your life.
Available at participating retailers
and www.themadcarpenter.net.

Q

Drip Society
Check out their Pyrex V-tips.
They are transparent with a
hint of color and are a perfect
complement to your mod.
Available at retailers and at
www.dripsociety.com.

issue 02 november/december 2014

25

2 0 1 4

H O L I D A Y

GIFT GUIDE

APPAREL

PRESENTED BY

Q

26 tokewell magazine

Wick and Wire
Whether you rock their ‘VAPE’
snapback or sport that ‘Been
Dripping’ sweater in the winter,
there’s no mistaking what life you
live. You’re about that vapelife.
Available at select retailers and at
www.wickandwirebrand.com.

Q

Q

Vaping Monkey
Vaping Monkey is a brand that
lets people know that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve
opted for a smoke-free lifestyle.
Vaping Monkey offers vibrant
colorways from their snapbacks,
hoodies and tees. Available
exclusively at www.vapervenue.com.

Train of Thought Collective
This is some of the freshest and
exclusive streetwear for the
discerning hip-hop head. With
quotes and lyrics from legends
like Biggie Smalls and A Tribe
Called Quest, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go wrong.
Available at retailers and at
www.totcstore.com.

issue 02 november/december 2014

27

R O Y

C H O I

A Chef
of the People
WORDS

SAUL GOODE

SNAPS

PHIL CRUZ /// KENJI FURUTANI

S

ome people were just born to do what they
do. Chef Roy Choi is one of those people. If
you are an Angeleno, chances are you’ve met
or seen Roy around L.A. at some point. The dude
is out there. He lives and breathes the city’s culture
and has made it his own personal mission to bring
good food to the people. His book, L.A. Son: My
Life, My City, My Food has become wildly popular
and chronicles Roy’s journey into becoming one of
the most inﬂuential chefs in the food industry today.
A former Chef de Cuisine at the prestigious Beverly Hilton, Choi actually made a name for himself
when he created Kogi – a food truck that roamed
the streets of Los Angeles fusing Mexican and Korean cuisine. Many credit Roy’s Kogi truck to being
one of the key sparks that ignited the food truck
movement, but for Roy it was something deeper. “I
wanted to bring good food to neighborhoods that
just had fast food and liquor stores. We didn’t just
serve Hollywood. I wanted people from all areas
to be able enjoy something good to eat,” says the
proud Choi. His restaurants, Chego!, Sunny Spot,
A-Frame, and Pot all carry different cuisines and
inﬂuences, and Choi has used his creativity to create a very unique identity for each one, giving them
cult-like status among So Cal foodies. What many
don’t know about the very talented Roy Choi is that
he is a huge advocate and participant in cannabis
culture, debunking the myth that stoners can’t be
hard workers and positive inﬂuences on their comWould you say you’re a silently
a symbol for successful stoners?
No. I’m not silent, but I’m not
showboating, either. The culture
is sophisticated enough and people are smart enough to get my
jokes. I think I take weed culture
a step further to where I’m not
doing the same clichéd things
and if you’re really a pot smoker,
you get the innuendos. There’s
depth and character behind everything. Like the front of our
menu, there’s a lady smoking a
huge spliff. It’s comedic but it’s

munities. “Parents know that smoking weed is a
huge part of the ethos behind what I do but they’re
very proud of me and will introduce me to their kids
as a role model,” Choi says. “That really trips me out.
That’s deep. They’ll say, “My son or daughter really
looks up to you, please take a picture with them.”
With a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy and an
open mind, Choi’s drive comes from a keen sense
of wanting to bring about social change through everything he does, and that includes his love for cannabis. “My goal is to be very open about marijuana
and stoner culture. In my life, I let it be a part of who
I am, but I let people into it as well, to take way the
negative stigmas associated with it. I’m running one
of the biggest food companies on the West Coast,
but I smoke weed every day. I’m just really laying
that out there to show that one thing isn’t just exclusive to the other,” says the chef. His mission seems
to be working, as even Hollywood has taken notice.
Jon Favreau’s latest cult-classic ﬁlm, “Chef” is loosely based on Choi’s career and he also served as a
technical advisor for the ﬁlm. “I’m older now, I don’t
need to smoke weed to show off or be cool. I’m all
about just taking away stereotypes, whether its food
culture, Asian culture, Latino culture, Hip-Hop,
culture, cannabis culture, or whatever. Just because
you’re into one thing, it doesn’t deﬁne who you are.
Can I talk openly about weed and smoke weed while
running a successful business and provide jobs for
over 400 people in my companies? Yes!

a real picture. We know somebody who went to Burma and
snapped that. It’s real. Weed life
and cooking. That’s me just having fun with everything while
taking away stereotypes.
How long have you been smoking pot for?
I ﬁrst smoked when I was 13. I
stopped for a while since I wasn’t
the most productive stoner. I always tripped on my homies who
could spit bars while they were
lit or cats doing windmills, draw-

ing shit and being creative. I was
never that type of stoner. When
I smoked, I was in a whole other
place. I would literally smoke so
much weed to the point where
getting up to go to the mail was a
chore. I would watch something
spill and just think, should I get
up and clean it?
Did you ever have to stop smoking for a career opportunity?
When I became a professional, I
actually stopped for a long time
because I had found a career in

issue 02 november/december 2014

31

32 tokewell magazine

being a chef at the Hilton Group.
They randomly drug tested and all
that. I’m not one to really cheat,
and I never wanted to smoke and
have to hide it. People fail to realize
that stoners in general don’t want
to hide the fact they smoke because
they don’t feel that they’re doing
anything illegal. When I grew up
and the opportunity to provide for
my family came from a place that
was a no drug culture, I stopped
smoking weed for about ten years.
To me, it was just the next chapter
of my life, but I did miss out on the
evolution of this culture. Up until
’95, it was all skunk. We didn’t talk
about strains or anything like that,
and the technology has just evolved
so much. It’s like I missed the legalization and now I’m back in this
whole new world and its great!
Do you feel like it’s more enjoyable since you took a break and
came back into it?
Yeah, I got back into it when Kogi
began, it became like oxygen to
me. I would dip out real quick,
toke, and get back to work prepping, cooking, and running the
streets. I knew I had a little more
control. I could take a couple
tokes and go back to work. For
someone who was a compulsive
smoker and used to smoke until
I couldn’t anymore, the fact that
the weed is stronger now is cool.
In the beginning, it would hit me
a lot faster but being older, I could
still focus on the face that I had
shit to do.

You were able to moderate using it more.
Being able to control using
marijuana as an adult has been
instrumental. I enjoy it more now.
I’m more of a connoisseur. I can
enjoy it on a level where it works
for me, and I can tap into a more
creative level.
Do you feel you use pot more as a
tool to enhance your creativity?
I think so. I use it to tap into places
to ﬁnd nuances that’ll make the
food better, to make the experience better. I’ll come up with an
idea and I’ll go smoke on it and
let it marinate. It might be ﬂavor,
presentation, or even verbiage
that I’m brainstorming on, but it’s
great. I’ll work, and then smoke
to relax and let the high take me
where it wants me to go. I’ll reﬂect
on what I’m thinking about and
it’s just great.
You really integrated your marijuana use into your whole process. What do you get out of it?
I think more people should smoke
or eat weed. It’s like dreaming. It
takes you away from your frontal mind, and allows you to tap
into other dimensions and other
feelings. There’s other information out there in this universe.
Whether through weed, yoga, or
meditation you can tap into information beyond the cerebral.
Through your spirit. Weed is one
way to get there. It’s a beautiful
way to get there.

issue 02 november/december 2014

33

Do you have any speciﬁc times
where it has shown in your
works?
The proof is in the pudding. Look
around. Take POT, for instance.
Look at the whole restaurant.
Look at the concept - the inﬂuence is there, from the detail to
the graphics to the names and ﬂavors. Those are all a result of me
smoking. That project is organic
and intuitive. Nothing’s forced,
and it’s natural. Sunny Spot is
another one of my favorites, out
in Venice. My core concept was
dancehall, Jamaican, reggae, Jah.
I was just feeling the energy from
those cultural aspects, and it was
a concept I saw while dreaming
and smoking. The designs and
concepts were all based on my
pure internal perception. I almost
had second thoughts and bogged
myself down with reasons why
I shouldn’t have done it. I’m Korean, not Jamaican, after all, and
all of a sudden - I’m second-guessing myself. The weed guided me
in terms of creating it.
You seem to draw on your diverse
upbringing and cultural knowledge to bring things to fruition.
Would you say that is one of your
strengths as a businessman?
Its one thing I do well with both
cannabis and life. I seem to be
able to blur the lines. Like POT
for instance–there’s a lady on the
cover of my menu smoking a spliff
but its still can be a family restaurant. The imagery doesn’t depict
anything about crime or negativity; I’m artistically sending a statement. I think Kogi is another good
example of blending the genres.

34 tokewell magazine

It’s a fresh new way to connect
with each other through food, and
it can be what you need it to be as
a family. It’s got respect from the
homies down the street in LA to
areas like Diamond Bar. I feel
like when people see me smoke or
talk about weed, something inside
of them instinctively knows they
can bring their kids inside this
restaurant. Some people are just
exploitative and not in a tasteful
way. I don’t think people get that
vibe or energy from me because
I truly believe that weed brings
people and families together. I’m
a very family oriented person, but
I don’t think shielding your kids
from cannabis is something good.
Given the success of your restaurants, have you gotten any negative backlash from your peers in
the industry?
No, and I think it stems from
the fact that I don’t exploit it. It’s
just naturally who I am. Anybody
knows me knows that I wake up
every morning to do my best to
feed the city. They know that weed
is something I bring along with
me - it’s not taken out of context,
if that makes sense. It’s just a part
of my pantry like salt and pepper.
[Getting mad at me for smoking]
would be the equivalent of them
getting mad at me for using basil
or oregano. To me, it’s cool. The
acceptance and positive energy
Is like one more bridge to helping
humans progress.
How has your career inﬂuenced
your mindset?
Kitchen culture is very loose and
non-judgmental. It’s a great cul-

36 tokewell magazine

ture. If you’re in the kitchen, in
most cases, you’re not worried
about fucking up your public image. The only reason you’re in the
kitchen is because nothing else in
the fucking world worked out for
you. Word is bond on that one! So
when you get there, you ﬁnd camaraderie amongst similar people. There’s nothing to hide.
At what point did you realize
that you were successful?
On the streets with Kogi was
when I knew something had
sparked, no doubt. I’m from L.A.
so I know how things work out
here so to feel the instant positive energy from the people was
big. I knew it was different when
we pulled up to rough neighborhoods and hundreds of people,
including some of the homies
were so appreciative we were
there. It bonded people. That was
moment I knew this changed.
Since you have been a weed
connoisseur for so long, what
differences do you see now in
terms of the way society views
cannabis use?
I think there is absolutely a
larger acceptance and less of a
social stigma with weed now.
People are less worried about it.
The openness has changed. Even
edibles have changed things.
Vape culture has changed. People aren’t just stoned now, they
are more responsible and they’re
just walking through life just a
little tilted now. We’re deﬁnitely
communicating better as people. A lot more ladies are smoking now. It’s brought a feminine

gangster touch to the culture.
The ladies got their game tight
- bongs, paper, vape, it’s just
beautiful. I’d also say that Asian
culture is deﬁnitely more heavily
involved in the cannabis culture
now. Back then, I was the only
one out of my friends.
You’re doing your part in this
whole lifestyle, promoting positivity through weed and food.
What drives you?
I can’t front and be anything
more than I am. I’m a chef. We’re
a bunch of pirates back there in
the ship. We’re reliable, we go
to work and all we want to do
is make you happy. That’s hospitality business. It’s the nature
of who I am, so for me, I could
never front. It would be wrong.
I work a 14-hour shift, go home,
relax, and smoke some weed. I
do this is because I have become
self-aware and realize I have a
voice. Everybody here is working for me because they want to
work with me. I can make this a
very positive thing.
What did you think when you
were offered to host your own
television series?
It’s a digital series and I thought,
“let’s roll!” It premiered on October 13, 2014, and some of my
guests include Jon Favreau, Anthony Bourdain, Mike D, Tokimonsta & Dumbfounded aka
Parker, Dilated Peoples, Sage
Vaughn, and Michelle Phan.
We’re also doing a special bonus
episode with The Hundreds, Animal Restaurant, and Mariscos
Jalisco.

issue 02 november/december 2014

37

38 tokewell magazine

As a culinary icon and visionary, where
do you see the trends in gastronomic industry 2 years from now?
Pot should be legal all around soon, so marijuana cuisine might be big. Otherwise, eating
less meat and not veggies is inevitable.
Do you think culinary cannabis will evolve
to a respected craft versus a gimmick?
I think that as it becomes legal, it will have
a place just like alcohol in restaurants.
In the pantheon of weed culture, there are
some pretty iconic ﬁgures. Are there any
who inﬂuence you or that you look up to?
For me, I’ve been a fan of so many different iconic ﬁgures in the weed industry. Like
Cheech Marin. Now, I’m a friend of Cheech!
It’s crazy to meet these people, like Dilated Peoples, and Alchemist, and now were
friends. To me they’re role model weed smokers. Creative, multifaceted, top of their game
weed smokers who are very sharp and witty.

RICK POON

What do you want your legacy to be, when
all is said and done?
It’s not about wealth or success. I was always
a dreamer when I was younger, and having
people look up to me, I never would have
imagined that. I love what I do and that’s all
that matters.

issue 02 november/december 2014

39

WORDS

MAXIMILLIAN STERLING

SNAPS

KENJI FURUTANI /// SKELETON KEY

T H E

Skeleton Key
Hidden deep within the bowels of Vatican City
lays a centuries old device shrouded in secrecy
which has the power and influence that could
change an entire industry and world as we
know it if revealed – The Skeleton Key.
The word “key,” which is derived
from the Old English word meaning “serving to open or explain,”
has always had metaphorical connotations, as in a means to uncover
ideas or emotions that are hidden
or blocked. This secret has been
preserved by some of the power
notable and powerful secret-organizations like Masons past and
present, Priory of Sion and The
Knights Templar. The Skeleton
Key is an artistic masterpiece coupled with unforeseen inﬂuence
to revolutionize an industry and
shake the core and foundation of
that industry, as we know it. For
centuries, this cryptic-like device
has been shrouded in mystery
and clandestine languages…until
now. After being hidden for millennia, the Skeleton key has been
discovered and released. Does this
sound familiar? It should since

it was derived from Dan Brown’s
novel, The DaVinci Code about the
Holy Grail. The Skeleton Key mod
is literally an artistic masterpiece
and device which has changed the
landscape of the vaping industry.
In the vape-mod industry there
are heavyweights like Skeleton Key
and then there are clone-makers,
“The successful mod makers tend to
have a certain story or feel or characteristic to them,” says Skeleton
Key. It almost seems sacrilegious
to call the Skeleton Key a “mod” as
evidenced by the build quality and
rarity of the product. The Skeleton
Key has a luxurious ambience and
mystique, likening it to a Hermès
Birkin bag or an Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak timepiece. We sat down
with the crew from Skeleton Key
to discuss exclusivity, engineering, and how a 1 of 4 Gold Edition
Skeleton Key sold for over $4,000.

issue 02 november/december 2014

41

42 tokewell magazine

How did Skeleton Key come to
fruition?
We had no serious plan in the
beginning. I was a steam engineer in a past life. I’ve been to
vape shops and saw how they
were charging $600 for a titanium tube. At that point, I felt
like this was achievable.
What happened after that?
We all got together and asked
ourselves, “What makes a mod?
Is it the tube? Is it the material? Is it the threading?” The
successful mod makers tend to
have a certain story or feel or
characteristic to them. There’s
some kind of emotional reaction. Take for example the ChiYou. It was a strong brand at the
time and had a certain voice to
it and that’s why people want a
mod. It’s artistic expression. We
struggled with the brand and
what we wanted from it.
How did the name Skeleton Key
come about?
Here at Skeleton Key, we are all
collectors of Skeleton Keys, or
at least one of us is. The brand
came from that. We thought it
was appropriate and had a great
meaning behind it.
How did the concept of the mod
materialize?
We were “enlightened” on a golf
course one day and we started
to brainstorm about the brand
and the idea and this mystical
symbol that has an enlightening

quality. It’s a powerful symbol of
choice that gives you access to
everything. Dualism if you will.
Hide things, unlock things and
reveal things. Quality art tends
to have a duality to it. You can
look at it many different ways
and makes you think.
Now that you had a concept and
direction, what happened next?
With that sort of brand characteristic; we started to look for
artists and turned down lots of
them. We ﬁnally found an artist
who understood the brand concept and ran with it and came
up with something even we
couldn’t have imagined.
So, you had your concept and artist, how did you engineer the mod?
We reverse engineered the whole

mod. No drawings. No schematics. We started ass-backwards, if
you will, from logo to mechanics. It forces the mechanics to
become part of your brand from
our locking ring to the doors.
For instance, the doors are symbolic of all doors being opened
when you unlock it. The attention to detail is our paramount
feature, from the tower windows
to the gate.
Your attention to detail and
craftsmanship is second to none.
We went from art to the mechanics. We went for certain
sounds and feels for instance,
a new key has a certain sound
that resonates and we replicated that. We wanted to create a
product where every inch of it is
absolutely Skeleton Key.

issue 02 november/december 2014

43

44 tokewell magazine

Were you surprised how fast Skeleton Key
caught ﬁre?
We really didn’t know it would take off how
it did. It grew organically. We made industry
connections like Jan from CaliVapers, to name
one off the top of my head. It almost seemed
like people were accidentally helping us. There
was very little resistance because once they see
the mod, they got it right away. It just draws
you in somehow. It’s in the key.

the person who has the Skeleton Key especially the story behind them. You can just
go to our website at skeletonkeymech.com
for updates.

You have this very interesting cult following.
We never thought it was a mass market product. We thought it would appeal to the World
of Warcraft nerdist collectors. Then, it had this
whole mystical luxe vibe and people started
taking about it. Believe it or not, people love
it for different reasons. Some people here in
the US love the functionality of the switch. For
instance, our France collectors are more interested in the symbology and not so much the
switch. They don’t give a fuck about the switch
(laughs). The symbology is what really builds
our community.
You guys are one of the few companies that
interacts with their client base.
We are very delicate of how we respond to questions about the art. We never claim to be the
artist – we liken ourselves to more of the museum curators if that makes sense. We let the art
take itself into whatever direction it goes without
guidance. If we intervened, it would have bit us
in the ass.

We let the art take itself
into whatever direction
it goes without guidance.
If we intervened, it would
have bit us in the ass.

I heard there was riddle of sorts to get on your
buyers list?
(Laughs) We were probably the ﬁrst to do this but,
we created this riddle online and you had to solve
it to get on the list to buy. What happened is they
solved it in 30 seconds.
What does it take for somebody to own a Skeleton
Key?
We make releases based upon availability and
geographical location. We really are about

What is this I hear about a Gold Edition?
The gold keys are created at random. We inlay
them in gold and they are 1 out of a hundred.
One person actually obtained one of four released and it sold for over $4,000.

What are your thoughts on the current cloning
sensation?
Well, it was inevitable but we got cloned not too
long ago. It almost seems like the vape community has this pro-cloning culture. It’s bizarre and it’s
only in this industry. Nobody in their right mind
praises knock-off Louis and Rolexes and is proud
to show off their fakes.
What have you done to stop the cloning?
There’s not much you can do in terms of brick
and mortar stores selling cloned Skeleton
Keys. What we can do is stop sale of cloned
Skeleton Key’s being sold as authentic. Even
Facebook has helped us in terms of people blatantly advertising Skeleton Key clones as real.
We have patents and you show them the gold
seal, it’s done.
Anything you’d like to add?
Don’t support thievery and do support
authenticity, art and craftsmanship.
Visit Skeleton Key at skeletonkeymech.com

issue 02 november/december 2014

45

artisanal collective

fotogasm
E I T A N

WORDS

TOKEWELL STAFF

SNAPS

Let us introduce you to Los Angeles’s
hottest
photographer–Fotogasm.
If you’re not privy, check out his Instagram account. You’ll notice he’s
amassed a following of over 476K.
There are celebrities that don’t hit
those type of numbers. If that’s not
a testament to
his
popularity
and the reach of
social media, I
don’t know what
is. Fotogasm has
been
shooting
for a little over 7
years. “My style
of photography is
formless without
genre
through
my lens,” says Eitan while sipping on
a strawberry concoction at a K-Town
cafe. When asked about the countless
models gracing his Instagram page,

46 tokewell magazine

M I S K E V I C H

A K A

EITAN ‘FOTOGASM’ MISKEVICH
Eitan says, “My dog Apollo is my
best friend and most reliable model.” When asked about being “lifted”
while shooting, he said, “My composition is the same but I do notice a lot
more when I’m under the inﬂuence.
I’m more intuitive and in an entirely
different creative
mindset.“
That
said, Eitan has
given Tokewell access to the opulent
and Hollywood
lifestyle
many
people dream of.
Eitan has agreed
to share some of
his works to allow
us to live vicariously through his lens. Enjoy.
fotogasm.net
Instagram.com/fotogasm

issue 02 november/december 2014

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48 tokewell magazine

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50 tokewell magazine

52 tokewell magazine

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54 tokewell magazine

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58 tokewell magazine

WORDS AND SNAPS MAXIMILLIAN STERLING
A report out from Greenwave Advisors, testing, period. Patients are ingesting these
forecasts that legal cannabis could po- edibles with the intent to medicate and
tentially be an industry with revenues in need to be aware of what they eating. There
upwards of $35 billion by 2020–if Medic- is a scary amount of edible manufacturinal Marijuana is legalized at the federal ers not doing their due diligence and putlevel. Now, let’s put that ﬁgure in perspec- ting out a product with little to no regard
of the patient’s safety.
tive: $35 billion equates
Iris mentions, “They’re
to more annual revepurchased from China
nue than the National
and spray medicine all
Football League (which
over them, so how can
currently stands at $10
you control that?” Iris,
billion to Roger Goodas an MMJ confectionell’s delight), and is right
ary company, aims to
there, ironically, with
be the reputable, sterile,
the current revenues for
and lab-tested edibles
the confectionary induscompany that your phytry (which stands at $34
sician would prescribe.
billion). Regardless of
This brand wasn’t dethe eventual legalization
signed to be used as a
path, we’re still looking
recreational, feel-good,
at a burgeoning industry
and turnt-up edible, but
that will generate a sigrather something you
niﬁcant number of jobs
and tax revenue for our nation. That said, would give your grandmother for medicthere is an inﬂux of MMJ edible companies inal purposes. Iris’s mission is to provide
out there looking to cash in on this in in- the cleanest, most accurately potent and
dustry. The edibles industry as a whole has best tasting edible in the MMJ industry,
a bad rap, due to the negative “Wild West” bar none. Now, the big question is whethconnotations meaning there are no regula- er the federal government will continue to
tions in terms of process and production. obstruct the growth of this industry, or opt
“The patients don’t really know the dosag- to help regulate it sensibly. Regardless of
es and they need direction and guidance,” what happens, we can be certain that Iris
says Iris. They are absolutely right. There will be there at the forefront of the edibles
needs to be mandatory and stringent lab MMJ industry.

You have a lot
of fun, edible
products out
on the current
marketplace.
Unfortunately,
the patients don’t
really know the
dosages of what
they consume.

60 tokewell magazine

Tell us about Iris’s mission.
We wanted to create a brand that was
medicinal. You have a lot of fun, edible
products out on the current marketplace.
Unfortunately, the patients don’t really
know the dosages of what they consume.
They need direction and guidance. You
don’t know whether or not if you eat this
chocolate that you’ll be sleepy, energetic,
or stuck on the couch. So, we wanted to
create a company that by the time this
movement becomes federally legal, can
be the premier company that stays.
Why gummies?
The reason behind the gummies is that a
lot of the gummies currently on the market are not made from scratch. They’re
purchased from China and sprayed with
medicine all over them. There’s no way to
control that. So, we decided to make the
gummies from scratch so we can control
the process and production to ensure a
premium product, and utilize lab-testing
to ensure proper dosages. We have three
types of gummies; CBD, Indica and Sativa. CBD has zero psychoactive effect. Indica is mostly for nighttime consumption
and Sativa is for daytime.
What is the difference between Iris chocolates and other brands?
We are one of the only companies to be
considered bean-to-bar Chocolatiers.
Most Chocolatiers are melters. What that
means is that they would buy chocolate
from the supermarket or a wholesaler and
melt it down. Maybe they’d add cinnamon
or strawberry ﬂavoring and they would

issue 02 november/december 2014

61

mold them. We literally roast
the beans, grind them and make
them into a liqueur, which convert to covertures then into the
bars.
That’s amazing. I had no clue this
was being done in the chocolate
industry.
Yes. We only use two ingredients.
We don’t use preservatives, additives, color gum or emulsiﬁers.
Just cacao, sugar, milk powder
and sometimes nuts. That is what
sets us apart. We are bean to bar
makers.
Asidefrombeingorganicandbeanto-bar makers, are there any other advantages Iris has over other
chocolatiers?
Absolutely. We retain the acids
in the chocolate called THC-A
through our process. THC-A has
many beneﬁcial properties like
anti-inﬂammatory, anti-spasm,
inhibits cancer cell growth, we
retain the THC-A through our
process. That’s our advantage.
Acid retention. Being directional.
Our packaging and cleanliness
(no additives). We are an organic
and kosher certiﬁed gourmet
chocolate.
You make your own chocolates?
We have cacao farms in Latin
America. We are very transparent in terms of traceability.
Besides, eating organic is better
than consuming processed foods
right?

62 tokewell magazine

What’s the goal for Iris?
To be known as the legitimate
premier edibles for the medicinal cannabis industry. We are
not the fun, cartoon, exploitative brand that you would see
in a hip-hop video. We want to
be legitimate medicinal application like pharmaceuticals.
Where can we get our hands on
Iris products?
We are currently available at
collectives in California and will
look to license to other states.
We’re also on the corner of Alvarado and Sunset–just kidding
(laughs).
I think it’s amazing that Iris is
such a health-conscious brand.
We are also launching a vegan
sugar-free version of the chocolates as well as a water-infused
line.
Where do you see the edibles
MMJ future?
We will be eventually federally
legal. Maybe not in 2016, because so many things need to
be ﬁxed ﬁrst, but soon. It could
be two or more years. There are
lots of politics involved. It’s an
industry that will generate revenue for the country and state,
but it’s also an industry that
will hurt the pharma industry
as well. People still need to get
paid and feed their families.
That’s what it boils down to.

issue 02 november/december 2014

63

horticulture

G E T YO U R P R I O R I T I E S

Straight!
BROUGHT TO YOU BY

A

ll too often growers have a
problem in the garden and
make a trip to the local hydro
store asking, “What product will
ﬁx my problem?”. With instant
gratiﬁcation becoming more and
more common, I get it, but let’s
get garden priorities straight.
Will a tropical plant grow well
in the desert? No. Is there some
product that will magically make
a tropical plant ﬂourish in the
desert? Again, no. What is our
biggest problem in this scenario? The environment! Your
number one priority in your
garden, above all else, ﬁrst and
foremost, is the environment. At
the top of the list is temperature
and humidity, but environment
also includes light schedule, water schedule, water temperature,
pH level, nutrient levels, co2
production (or air exchange),
and air circulation. These are
all factors that Mother Nature
usually controls. If the environment is on point your plants will
function as they are supposed to,
then and only then, can you begin to properly diagnose issues
or truly judge the difference that
an additive/supplement has or
has not made.
At ﬁrst, some may look at the
list and wonder how a few of

64 tokewell magazine

WEGROWHYDRO.COM

WORDS PAUL

these conditions relate to the
environment. Temperature and
humidity are of course the easiest to understand. Every plant
has a region or climate that it
is native to, and those are the
weather conditions it prefers.

Light schedule is going to pertain
to what season a plant prefers to
grow in. You are trying to duplicate the amount of light and dark
hours that the plant normally
receives during the season it prefers to grow/ﬂower. This is what
controls a plant’s internal clock

DARBRO

and tells it when to fruit/ﬂower.
The watering schedule and water
temperature are more important
than some think. Most plants
prefer to be watered prior to the
sun coming up or lights coming
on. Water temperature is very
crucial.
Again,
roots need oxygen.
Water is able to
hold the most oxygen at 68 degrees
Fahrenheit. Warmer water holds less
oxygen, and colder
water shocks the
roots. pH and nutrient levels are often ideal in nature
due to the beneﬁcial biology in the
soil. pH levels will
ﬂuctuate according to the organic
matter and biology in the soil, but
will be within the
absorbable range
for the plant. Organic nutrients
available in the soil will never
burn because the plant can recognize what they are and only
absorbs what it needs. When we
are mixing our own nutrients,
especially with hydroponics, it is
very important to make sure that

the pH is correct and that the
nutrient concentration is not
too high or too low. When using mineral based nutrients,
unlike with organics, the plant
has no choice but to absorb it
so too much can be devastating. Last but not least, there is
a constant supply of CO2 outside, and the wind does a great
job of circulating it. The wind
also helps cool plants off and
moves built up humidity out
from between foliage. It is important for you to make sure
your plants are able to have
fresh CO2 constantly, and that
you have good air circulation
in your grow room.
When you see problems
arising, the ﬁrst thing to check
is your environment. Temperature and humidity are
ﬁrst and foremost, when they
are off everything else will be
with it. Keep your plants on
the right light schedule, and
avoid working during ‘lightsoff ’ with green light. Green
light should be mostly for
emergencies and necessary
check-ups. Do not over-water.
The most common problem is

advertise in the premiere
lifestyle magazine today.
contact info@tokewell.com
for more info.

issue 02 november/december 2014

65

horticulture

over-watering, which in actuality
the problem is under-oxygenating but that’s another lesson.
If there is moisture available to
the plant, it does not need more.
Make sure plants have a chance
to use up the water available to
them, this will stimulate roots
to stretch and search for water
giving you more growth. Plants
absorb nutrients at different
rates when pH changes, to optimize your nutrient uptake always make sure your pH is at an
acceptable level. Air circulation
is a must. A nice breeze should
blow through your garden to remove built up heat and humidity.
Last but not least, make sure you
have good air exchange if you are
not producing or supplementing
CO2….they need to breathe!
If environmental conditions
are off, the plant can do a number of things that can blur your
ability to read the plant properly.
For example, humidity can cause
moisture to be pulled out of a
plant too quickly or not at all.
This will domino into transpiration ceasing, which stops photosynthesis, subsequently stopping
any and all growth. The inexperienced grower will make the
trip to the store looking to buy
some product that will increase
growth, and will most likely
leave with a vegetative fertilizer.
This still will not ﬁx the problem and the grower will still be
scratching their head wondering
what is wrong with their plants.
An experienced hydro store clerk
will always ask your environmental conditions ﬁrst, to make
sure they are getting you what

66 tokewell magazine

you need. If you run through the
environmental checklist you will
know that it is your humidity levels and adjust accordingly. Your
plants will go back to growing as
they should and you won’t have
spent your money on something
that isn’t ﬁxing the problem to
begin with. And if there is a legitimate problem, you will now
be able to accurately diagnose it
and decide what nutrient or supplement would be best to help
your plants.
The most common thing that
people try to ﬁx with a bottle is
“yellowing”. Most people will see
some yellowing and come right
in saying they need a nitrogen
boost, or need to correct a calcium/magnesium deﬁciency. But
now we have our new mode of
thinking. Before running to the
store, ﬁrst ask yourself all the environmental questions. How is
my temperature and humidity?
Has my light schedule been interrupted? Have I been watering
too much, or not getting enough
oxygen to my roots? Are my pH
levels out of range? Are my nutrient levels too high or too low?
What some do not know is that
in addition to lacking nutrients,
watering too much, incorrect pH
levels, and too much nutrients
can also cause yellowing. Answering these questions ﬁrst can
possibly save you the money on
a bottle that still would not have
solved the problem. If your environment is dialed in and you are
still having the problems, then
we can talk about products that
can help. Most base nutrients on
the shelf these days have every-

thing you need and your plants
will not be deﬁcient, people are
more likely to over-nutrient than
under-nutrient.
This also applies to supplements and boosters. All too often I hear people say that they
didn’t notice any difference from
a product. Remember, environment ﬁrst and then the juice. Any
and all additives will be most noticed and will work the best when
the environment is dialed in. Two
things to take from this. One,
you can’t discredit ANY product until your environment is on
point. Two, save your money for
supplements and additives until
your environment is on point.
From now on think of environment ﬁrst so that your plants can
then utilize all the goodness that
you are feeding them. Always remember how much environment
can affect the functionality of a
plant. Heat causes transpiration
and more water use, high humidity can cause stomata to stay
closed and not transpire at all,
low humidity causes more water
use, light schedules tell the plant
what time of year it is, roots with
too much water available to them
will not reach for it, roots breath
oxygen and foliage CO2 so make
sure they both can breathe, and
the list goes on. When your plant
can function properly, it can
then utilize nutrients to expand
growth to its full potential. In
the end, the garden with great
environment and cheap/minimal nutrients will ALWAYS do
better than the garden with great
nutrients and a cheap/minimal
environment.

I ﬁrst got introduced to juicing raw cannabis
just over a half decade ago. Since then, I’ve
learned so much more and want to share my
experience with you. Numerous videos and
articles, backed with years of research has
supported this process and there are just too
many health beneﬁts to ignore. Aside from the
medicinal qualities of juicing raw cannabis,
you can also mix it with your fruit/vegetable
juices. It’s the perfect addition to your current
juicing regimen. It mixes well with any juicing
recipe and is extremely versatile. You can add
it to your blender/bullet to get all the ﬁber and
extra nutrients or run it through your juicer
and leave out the extras. Either route you opt
for is perfect. My wife and I love the extra ﬁber
and vitamins, so we use a blender.
Starting your day with a mix of apples, banana,
kale, spinach, ginger root, radish, carrots, lemon
and cannabis plant feels invigorating. The combination of vitamins, minerals and ﬁber wakes
you up while injecting an energy that lasts until
about mid- afternoon. You’d be surprised how
much punch these combinations give. The raw
cannabis juice not only has more vitamin C and
A than an apple or orange, but it also doesn’t
get you “high”. As a result, you can ingest higher
doses to gain more from the medicinal effects.
Since raw cannabis is non-psychoactive and
contains properties to aid, cure and prevent
diseases, it’s perfect for everyone. Cannabinoids have been shown to possess antioxidant, anti-inﬂammatory and neuroprotective
properties, making them a powerful dietary
supplement.
As Hippocrates once said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
Here’s a few diseases juicing Cannabis has
been known to keep in remission and/or cure:
cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple
sclerosis, tourette syndrome, dementia, liver
disease, hepatitis, lymphoma, interstitial cystitis and numerous autoimmune conditions as
well as neurological conditions and so much
more. That said, do some research and try
some of your own recipes.

68 tokewell magazine

To get started, here’s a basic recipe for 2 people:
“All In” Recipe:
– 2-3 large leaves of kale
– A handful of spinach
– A handful of raw cannabis leaf
(You can either grow your own or contact
local growers, dispensaries and sites like
MissionHomegrown.com for more help)
– 1 small radish
– 1 small carrot
– 1 large apple
– 1 large orange
– 1 banana
– 1 stick of celery
– 1 small chunk of ginger root
You can also add in a small amount of spirulina for a extra antioxidant boost.. Adjust the
amounts and size of veggies or fruits used to
adjust the taste. Adding in a small kiwi or some
strawberries can give you the natural sweet
factor if you need. I personally love the earthy
organic “all in” taste. It reminds me I’m healing my body with nature. Have fun and keep
celebrating health!
Video reference:
FUCR.info/videos.html

the
assocation
for the open
vapor and
e-liquid
sfata.org industry
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Nestled in the belly of Hollywood is a “must-go
to” when it comes to authentic Thai food paired
with hookah. Yes. You read correctly – a hookah
lounge. June Poling - the owner of this Hollywood gem is the brainchild of this gastro-innovation. “I wanted to provide an all-inclusive
environment for authentic Thai food, live music
and of course , hookah”, says June. The cuisine
is nothing short of amazing paying homage to
June’s homeland – Thailand and I haven’t talked about the live band yet, which plays music
from John Mayer and Bruno Mars to Sublime.
The combination sets the tone of a cloud-ﬁlled
jazz lounge and adds to that perfect ambiance.
When I told June that her hookahs are the best
I have ever had she said, “It’s a constant learning
experience. It’s all in the details like making sure

nariya thai
the hookah is airtight to the spacing between the
foil and shisha to give the best hookah experience possible.“ In addition, they offer a variety of
hookah bowls other than the ceramic type from
oranges, watermelons and pineapples if you
feel exotic. “There are lots of lounges that take
shortcuts and use China-made hookahs. We use
real Khalil Mamoon hookahs, Starbuzz and Al
Fakher shisha. No shortcuts here. It’s all in the
details”, says Poling when asked about what sets
her apart from the rest of the hookah bars. That
said, if you want to get away from the EDM
clubs surrounding the area and good place to
chill and eat amazing food, look no further. Order the deep fried chicken skins, combination
fried rice and a tower (or two) of Singha Beer
and enjoy.
Nariya Thai
6099 Sunset Blvd., (2nd Floor)
Los Angeles, 90028
nariyathai.com

issue 02 november/december 2014

71

gastronomics

shakas

Howzit braddah? That’s a greeting as indigenous and authentic as a
Shaka. If you’ve never had authentic Hawaiian cuisine, you need to
take yourself to either of Shaka’s Monterey Park or Downtown Alhambra locations. First opened in 1995, co-owner Wilson blessed the SGV
with his rendition of Ohana life. “We used to drive all the way out to
Gardena to get plate lunches. We wanted to bring authentic Hawaiian
ﬂavors to the mainland and it seemed like a good idea, so we opened
up our ﬁrst location Monterey Park and 20 years later, we’re still going
strong.” Their gastro-varietal menu includes specialties like their famous 442nd Combo plate (named after a famous WWII combat unit) to
the more traditional Loco Moco’s and infamous Shave Ice just to name
a few. “Being the recipient of an abundance of support from the local
families and friends, we were able to bring our rendition of authentic
Hawaiian culture to Southern California”, says Wilson. As evidenced
with not an empty seat in the restaurant, I would say he’s deﬁnitely
succeeded in blessing us Angelinos with Hawaii’s culture and cuisine.
Mahalo.